THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PS4 NPL NSW MEN’S ROUND 12 5PM • SUNDAY ILINDEN SPORT CENTRE V 28TH MAY 2017

FIXTURES TEAM LISTS MATCH PREVIEW TEAM OF THE WEEK WELCOME #PS4NPLNSW FROM THE

elcome all of our players, officials, and guests making our club what it is and we hope to this year, Wto this Round 12 game against FC. add a further chapter to that fine history. Today’s game is part of a wonderful weekend On the field, it has been a tough few weeks. of football that is heritage round. It is a great We have been crippled by some unfortunate opportunity for clubs with so much history, such injuries and suspension. That said, the boys are as our great club, to look back on the contributions determined to turn things around against the made by the many wonderful players and officials newest boys on the block, Sydney FC. They are a who have called the Ilinden Sports Centre and our young and energetic team with loads of potential. other venues before it, their home. This dates back That said, if our boys can play with the passion to the Club’s inception in 1969. and the commitment of some of the great Ilinden We are fortunate to have some of those former teams of yesteryear, we hope to again be singing players with us at today’s game. Each of them have the Club song at the end of the game. played their part in the growth and evolution of Rockdale City Suns. So many wonderful memories, So best of luck to all of our teams today. so much history and so much to be proud of. In the under 18s, it is a top of the table clash. The In particular, who could forget our championship under 20s will be facing stiff competition but they winning teams of 1984, 2002 and 2006. For our continue to improve and whilst the result did not older members, the 1984 team, coached by Ilija go our way last week, we have full confidence that Takac remains the highlight following their 3-2 they can have a strong second half of the season. grand final win over Inter Monaro in front of thousands of jubilant Ilinden fans. We would also like to acknowledge the improvement shown by our youth teams and in Likewise, we will not forget the 2002 wining side, particular our under 16s who last week defeated coached by Mile Todorovski and legend Bill Pilovski the Western Sydney Wanderers, a great effort from who won the decider after a dominant season. And a team who are on the rise. how fitting was it for a true legend of the game, Spase Najdoski to score the only goal of the final in Enjoy the game and we hope to see you all next front of 3000 ecstatic fans at Melita Stadium. Wednesday night 31st May at the Ilinden Sports Four years later, and we again won the final Centre for our final FFA Cup qualifier game. It will following a 1-0 win over Penrith Nepean United be a tough battle but we are looking forward to it. again at Melita Stadium. As always, we would like to thank and acknowledge More recently, we will not forget the charge to our wonderful sponsors: the grand final by our 2013 team who came from Co major sponsors: Pauls Customs & Forwarding nowhere to make the big dance against Bonnyrigg Solutions and the Home Lending Centre at Bexley. White Eagles. The team coached by Branko Culina may have lost the final 1-0, but the spirit they Major partners: SX Trailers, MKD Transcorp, showed was truly remarkable. Ribarovski Catering Equipment, Benino Fine And most recently, who will forget our 2015 run Foods, Marco Polo Foods, NTS Communications, in the FFA Cup culminating in a narrow 3-2 loss at Australian Mortgage Options, Bankstown Jubilee Oval against the then Australian champions, Corporate Accounting, Consolidated Office Choice Victory in front of over 5000 fans. Kogarah, Laing & Simmons St.George, FLIP TV, We salute every player, committee member and Cityview Group and Raine & Horne Rockdale. volunteer who has, since 1969, played a part in Regards, Dennis Loether- President RCS FC

Website: rcsfc.com.au Twitter: @RockdaleCitySFC Facebook: fb.com/Rockdale-City-Suns-Football-Club-Ilinden

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Website: rcsfc.com.au Twitter: @RockdaleCitySFC Facebook: fb.com/Rockdale-City-Suns-Football-Club-Ilinden S B # NAME S B # NAME 1 BRADASEVIC David GK 1 EVANS Mitchell 2 PETKOVSKI Daniel 2 CURTIS Brendan 3 HESKETH Steve 3 FLOTTMANN Patrick 4 MCCLENAHAN Trent 4 TIMOTHEOU George 5 REID Paul 5 GREEN Matt 6 RICIUTTO Blake 6 KULESKI Nicola 7 UROSEVSKI Alec 7 MASKIN Daniel 8 CANAK Alec 8 ZAPATA Juan 10 GAITATZIS Harris 9 ANTONIOU Bai 11 GROZDANOVSKI Jonathon 10 AVERY Aaron 12 EL HAFIANE Idriss 11 ARDITTI Chris 14 SORGE Brayden 12 LOKOLINGOY Charles 15 PETRILLO Nicholas 13 MCGING Liam 16 SAVOR Issac 14 GONZALEZ Cristian 17 ALAMADDENE Toufic 15 MCILLHATTON Sam 19 SAVOR Patrick 16 MUTCH William 20 BAZI Andrew GK 17 ZUVELA Chris 21 LOUPIS Michael 18 FOFANAH Alusine 22 COVIC Ante 19 IREDALE John 23 FIGON Jordan 20 HEWARD-BELLE Thomas 21 AGAMEMNONOS Andrea Player Coach: Paul Reid Coach: Michael Grbevski Assistant Coach: Matthew Ribarovski Head Coach: Rob Stanton Goalkeeper Coach: Spiro Parameritis Asst. Coach: Physiotherapist: Jerry Fillipatos Manager: Michael Swibel

Referee: K. Patterson Assistant Referees: N. Backo & P. Teleki 4th Official: M. Bailey FIRST GRADE NPLNSW.COM.AU MATCH

fter three straight defeats Rockdale City ASuns will be out to end their recent slump with victory against Sydney FC on Sunday.

Paul Reid’s team has fallen back to reality after setting the pace for the rest of the competition during the first six rounds of the competition.

The goals have dried up for the Suns and with it so have the results. Rockdale will need to rediscover the magic touch in front of goal if they are to return to the top of the table.

The young Sky Blues will be hoping to capitalise on Rockdale’s form slump and their fast and expansive attack will be difficult to contain .

Another loss for the Suns could do serious damage to the team’s confidence and would drop them well off the pace in the chase for the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition Premiership.

1ST GRADE - PLAYSTATION 4 NPL NSW MEN’S POS TEAM P W D L F A GD PTS

1 APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 11 8 0 3 25 11 14 24

2 Blacktown City FC 11 7 3 1 21 11 10 24

3 Sydney United 58 FC 11 7 1 3 23 11 12 22

4 Sydney Olympic FC 11 6 3 2 16 10 6 21

5 Rockdale City Suns FC 11 6 2 3 23 18 5 20

6 Manly United FC 11 5 3 3 26 21 5 18

7 Hakoah Sydney City East FC 11 4 4 3 19 15 4 16

8 Wollongong Wolves FC 11 4 1 6 11 16 -5 13

9 Sydney FC 11 3 1 7 17 24 -7 10

10 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 11 2 2 7 20 33 -13 8

11 Sutherland Sharks FC 11 2 0 9 16 29 -13 6

K. Patterson 12 Parramatta FC 11 1 2 8 13 31 -18 5 N. Backo & P. Teleki M. Bailey 5 FIRST GRADE #PS4NPLNSW

Rockdale City Suns 0 - APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 at Ilinden Sports Centre APIA Leichhardt Tigers has returned to the top of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder after defeating Rockdale City Suns 2-0 at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday. Goals to Sean Symons and Jordan Murray condemned Rockdale to their third straight defeat as APIA made it back to back wins. Murray gave APIA the lead early in the second half and they didn’t look back as Symons wrapped up the result with an 84th minute strike.

Sydney FC 2 - Wollongong Wolves 1 at Lambert Park An injury time Will Mutch strike has helped Sydney FC claim a vital 2-1 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s win against Wollongong Wolves at Lambert Park on Saturday. Mutch’s second goal of the match broke the hearts of the travelling Wollongong fans as the streaky winger snuck in to help the Young Sky Blues secure a come from behind victory. Patrick Antelmi’s 74th minute strike put the Wolves in prime position for a much needed away win before Mutch levelled the scores only moments later. The former Blacktown Spartans player was then on hand to score the winner in the frantic final stages as Sydney FC secured its third win of the season.

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7 HEADINGFEATURE STORY #PS4NPLNSW WALKING DOWN

Before I moved from Auckland, New Zealand League and Aussie rules were the most popular to Sydney many moons ago, my impression winter games, the games for the masses. And of Australian sporting culture was rather one finally, there was football - working class to the core dimensional and naive. but often regarded as the black sheep on the local My viewpoint was purely based on what I’d seen of sporting landscape. Australian national teams in sports such as rugby Why? Because unlike the others, football was union, rugby league and netball, codes that enjoy a the one and only sport that truly represented popular following in my homeland. the multicultural melting pot that is modern day Back then, whenever New Zealand lined up against Australia. Australia in each of these sports, those who wore I even turned out for a South American side in the green and gold were predominantly white an Ethnic Cup tournament (apparently my Maori Australians of British heritage. Players with names genes gave me the look required to qualify for like Shaw, O’Connor, Lynagh and Hawker. Rogers, the team) and couldn’t believe the popularity of Cronin and Reddy. To me, that was normal. the event and the technical brilliance showed by the Latinos and continental Europeans. The Brits Australian football (soccer) meanwhile, was weren’t too bad either and part-timers or not, the completely different. talent on display was astounding. As a youngster, my first sporting love was football Fast forward to 1996 and I’m a rookie (soccer). I played for Mt Wellington, one of the most photojournalist earning a crust contributing words successful clubs in the country, and represented and pictures to a weekly rag called Inside Soccer. As Auckland at the Under 16 nationals. part of my beat, I don’t miss a home game involving I remember watching my senior team, the national NSL giants Sydney United, Sydney Olympic and league champions of New Zealand, play a Trans- Marconi Stallions. Tasman challenge match against Australian NSL I also cover various games in the NSW state champions Marconi. I also remember looking leagues, visiting clubs such as Blacktown City, through the match program and noting that while Bonnyrigg White Eagles, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, every Mt Wellington player was of Anglo-Celtic Manly, Melita, Rockdale and Sutherland. heritage (plenty of Poms and Scots in that lineup), the Stallions’ team was very different. European I gradually learn the storied histories of clubs that names such as Prskalo, Jankovics, Krncevic and were established by ethnic communities as long Vieri jumped off the page and hit me squarely ago as the 1950s, when an avalanche of European between the eyes. immigrants flooded into the urban capitals of Sydney and Melbourne, changing the demographic Being a curious fellow, I wondered where these of a nation. players with the exotic names had come from and Italians, Greeks, Croatians, Serbians, Macedonians, wondered why they were playing for an Australian Maltese and the Jewish community formed their team. own football clubs across Sydney and those clubs Little did I know that my interest in that Marconi played a huge role in the assimilation process. Stallions side was the beginning of a love affair These communities identified with their football with Australian football and a journey that would clubs as outlets for social interaction and a sense of lead me to write a bit about a game that I’d come belonging. The clubs also attracted to their games to adore. large and boisterous crowds that were both the Not long after watching the Trans-Tasman stoush, envy and the bane of the locals. I moved to Sydney and realised that not only My football journey continues as I attend matches was multiculturalism alive and well in Australia’s and training sessions and press conferences. I read largest city, the sporting landscape here was vastly about the history of the local game and like every different to the one I’d left behind. self-respecting “football addict” get my TV fix on Unlike New Zealand, rugby in Australia was SBS. I speak to people involved at all levels, from dominated by private school old boys and grass roots to the top end, enhancing my football university-educated chaps who earned a crust in education and enjoyment of the game. I can’t get the professions. Doctors, lawyers and stock brokers enough. were a dime a dozen within the Wallaby ranks. In 1996, Branko Culina’s Sydney United are the 8 FEATUREHEADING STORY NPLNSW.COM.AU

aristocrats of the Australian game and with the unfortunately, despite the incredible success of the likes of , , , team, City just couldn’t draw a crowd and due to David Zdrilic and Kresimir Marusic, it’s no surprise financial considerations, the club made the decision that they play a sublime brand of football that to withdraw from the national competition. takes them all the way to the NSL Grand Final. After some years in the wilderness, Hakoah Sydney Unfortunately, Culina’s men suffer an upset away City East two years ago won promotion to the loss to Brisbane Strikers in front of a record crowd PlayStation4 NPL NSW Men’s competition and have of 44,000. since managed to hold their own against the best At Olympic, I admire the goal-scoring nous of of the best in NSW. Kris Trajanovski and Abbas Saad, the skill and Meanwhile, I discover that Blacktown City is by majesty of Milan Blagojevic, and the industry of far the most successful club in NSW state league Peter Tsekenis. There’s also a 17-year-old kid by history, winning more Premierships and more the name of who will go on to play Championships (i.e. grand finals) than anyone else. almost 100 games for the club before forging a career at Dutch giants Feyenoord, and Blackburn Sydney United 58 are a close second on the Rovers in the English . leaderboard, while other clubs such as Parramatta FC, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Hakoah Sydney City Meanwhile, over the coming years I also grow East, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Sutherland, South to admire the Wollongong Wolves, who claim Coast Wolves, Sydney Olympic, Manly United, and consecutive NSL Premierships in 1999-2000 and Rockdale City Suns also have their names proudly 2000-2001 with a talented roster that includes engraved on the honours boards out at Football , Matt Horsley and Paul Reid. The Wolves capture the imagination of the local football NSW. community and prove that even a club from Meanwhile, it needs to be said that while the regional NSW can foot it with the best. ethnic clubs established by European migrants all Olympic win their second NSL title in 2001-2002, those years ago provided the foundation stones with Ante Milicic grabbing the winner in the Grand for football in NSW, (indeed, in Australia), district/ Final against Glory before 42,000 fans in the association clubs such as Manly United and far west. Sutherland Sharks have been just as important to the local game, providing opportunities for players But despite the big grand final crowds, the NSL is and fans alike and boasting rich histories dating as struggling and by early 2004, the competition is far back as 1930 (Sutherland). shut down and replaced by the new A-League. There’s also a misconception that the Brits, the The collapse of the NSL sees the likes of Sydney Irish and the Aussies haven’t had too much of an United, Sydney Olympic, Wollongong Wolves and influence on local football, but nothing could be Marconi reacquaint themselves with other former further from the truth, as players, coaches and national league clubs APIA Leichhardt, Blacktown administrators from those backgrounds have been City, Parramatta Eagles and St George in the NSW at the forefront of the local game for decades. Premier League, the elite state competition that kicked off way back in 1957. This weekend Heritage Round will be celebrated at various grounds around Sydney. It’s a round Today, Marconi and Saints no longer play at the that holds special significance for NSW clubs and state’s elite level, having been relegated to the celebrates their history and the contribution they’ve second tier; but another former NSL club, and the made to the football landscape since the start of most successful of them all, Hakoah Sydney City the 20th century. East, has re-emerged from the wilderness to again take their place in the sun. So to the players and fans who are involved this weekend, enjoy the football and regardless of the Established by Jewish migrants in 1939, Hakoah Sydney City East won five state Premierships and history of your club, take a moment to remember four grand finals before emerging as the most the significance of the occasion. Not just in a successful club in history, footballing sense, but also in an historical sense. winning four Championships under the name of After all, football history is Australian history and Sydney City in 1977, 1980, 1981 and 1982. for me, it’s a rich one that I’ve been blessed to enjoy The club boasted some of this nation’s finest ever since that Marconi side with the exotic names footballers, including Ray Baartz, Jim Patikas, John rolled into Auckland all those years ago. Kosmina, Jimmy Mackay and . But By Derek Royal, Football NSW Reporter 9 UNDER 20s #PS4NPLNSW

25 GK Max EPHRAI 24 Nikola UJDUR 26 Josh TASEVSKI 25 Jay FOSTER 27 Josh GOULD 26 Leo MALFARA 28 Chris HANCOCK 27 Cooper COSKERIE 30 Trent SIERRA 28 Finn BALLARD-MCBRIDE 31 Aron MIDON 29 Ben VAN MEURS 32 Calum KERMACK 30 David MALISHEV 33 Tobias NORVAL 31 Paolo BONNANI 34 Alex MALFARA 32 Harry VAN DER SAAG 35 Jared KADER 33 Guiseppe TILIO 36 Jonah CARAGHER 34 Perry THOMAS 37 James TEMELKOVSKI 35 Alex GOLLAN 38 Zac YILMI 36 Daniel BLACHURA 39 Scott PERIER 37 Sam HAMILTON Giuliano AIROLDI 40 Duro DRAGICEVIC Jordan PYNE Jordan WARD Head Coach: David Zdrilic Coach: Stamati Glaros Assistant Coach: Rob Stanton Assistant Coach: George Mavros Manager: Ian McKenzie Team Manager: Michael Ephraim

UNDER 20s - PLAYSTATION 4 NPL NSW MEN’S POS TEAM P W D L F A GD PTS 1 Sutherland Sharks FC 11 8 2 1 35 11 24 26 2 Sydney United 58 FC 11 6 2 3 17 11 6 20 3 Blacktown City FC 11 6 2 3 17 12 5 20 4 APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 11 6 1 4 28 16 12 19 5 Sydney Olympic FC 11 5 2 4 19 20 -1 17 6 Sydney FC 10 4 4 2 18 8 10 16 7 Manly United FC 11 4 2 5 24 23 1 14 8 Hakoah Sydney City East FC 11 4 2 5 14 15 -1 14 9 Rockdale City Suns FC 11 3 3 5 10 21 -11 12 10 Wollongong Wolves FC 10 3 1 6 16 23 -7 10 11 Parramatta FC 10 2 1 7 10 20 -10 7 12 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 10 1 2 7 9 37 -28 5

10 UNDER 20s NPLNSW.COM.AU MATCH

ockdale City Suns host Sydney FC in the final Rmatch of round twelve on Sunday with both sides starting to feel their way into the season. The hosts have proven increasingly difficult customers in recent times with just one loss in their last five and were unlucky to go down 1-0 to high-flying APIA Leichhardt in round eleven’s fixture. Sydney FC are also beginning to show their mettle and have conceded just two goals in their last four. A goal difference of plus ten means David Zdrilic’s side are well poised to secure a position in the top five with a win at Ilinden Sports Centre.

11 UNDER 18s #PS4NPLNSW

46 GK Evan DAVIS 1 Tom FAY 47 Kyle SARIGIANNIS 2 Evan TSAKOS 48 Jordan KERRY 3 Aaron GURD 49 Jake TRAJKOVSKI 4 Phil CANCAR 50 Alexei ROSSER 5 Mitch MATTISON 51 Caleb BARTIER 6 Jake HOLLMAN 52 Michael BORG 7 Marco TILIO 53 Nathan MANNO 8 Leo ABDO 54 Peter PATSIAVOUDIS 9 Jacob VASILIOU 57 Harry BROWEL 10 Rocco CHISARI 58 George MEDAKOVIC 11 Alex MASCIOVECCHIO 59 Nathan HANCOCK 12 Jay HIRSCHOWITZ 60 Daniel DIMITRIADIS 13 Paolo LAXAMANA 61 Dimi PETRATOS 14 Benjamin KOOP 62 Kyle ANGELOU 15 Luke OKUDA 65 Dom BRESCHITTO 16 Bailey KUBECKA

Coach: Steve Zoric Head Coach: Jimmy Van Weeren Assistant Coach: Gary Deprato Assistant Coach: Jason Rea Manager: Richard Paddle

UNDER 18s - PLAYSTATION 4 NPL NSW MEN’S POS TEAM P W D L F A GD PTS 1 Sydney FC 10 8 1 1 27 8 19 25 2 Rockdale City Suns FC 11 7 2 2 26 9 17 23 3 Manly United FC 11 6 4 1 18 12 6 22 4 Sutherland Sharks FC 11 5 1 5 17 18 -1 16 5 Wollongong Wolves FC 10 4 3 3 20 12 8 15 6 Sydney United 58 FC 11 4 3 4 16 17 -1 15 7 Parramatta FC 10 3 5 2 12 11 1 14 8 Blacktown City FC 11 4 1 6 14 11 3 13 9 Hakoah Sydney City East FC 11 3 3 5 16 24 -8 12 10 APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 11 2 2 7 15 26 -11 8 11 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 10 1 5 4 11 24 -13 8 12 Sydney Olympic FC 11 0 4 7 11 31 -20 4

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HOMESUBHEAD GROUND - ILINDEN SPORTS CENTRE West Botany St, Rockdale

ROUND 02 SUN 19TH MARCH 2 - 1 VS Sydney United 58 FC

ROUND 03 SUN 26TH MARCH 4 - 1 VS Parramatta FC

ROUND 05 SUN 9TH APRIL 2 - 2 VS Sydney Olympic FC

ROUND 09 SUN 7TH MAY 0 - 4 VS Blacktown City FC

ROUND 11 SUN 21ST MAY 0 - 2 VS APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC

ROUND 12 SUN 28TH MAY 17:00 VS Sydney FC

ROUND 15 SUN 18TH JUNE 17:00 VS Hakoah Sydney City East FC

ROUND 17 SUN 2ND JULY 17:00 VS Sutherland Sharks FC

ROUND 18 SUN 16TH JULY 17:00 VS Manly United FC

ROUND 19 SUN 23RD JULY 17:00 VS Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC

ROUND 21 SUN 6TH AUGUST 17:00 VS Wollongong Wolves FC

Fixtures subject to change. Check NPLNSW.com.au for the latest information. 14 CORPORATE PARTNERS

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